Antidepressant

One of the happiest countries in the world dangerously flirts with antidepressant overconsumption

The pandemic, lockdowns and the fear of the unknown have made the Bulgarians seek support in antidepressants and psychotropic drugs, shows a study by the National Center for Public Health Protection and Analysis - "Mental health aspects of the Covid-19 epidemic in Bulgaria".

The study compares data from the beginning of the pandemic with those from 2019.

28 000 packs of medicines illegally imported from Bulgaria were detained in Turkey. The drugs were detained in an operation of the anti-organized crime and smuggling services in Istanbul, reported the state TV channel TRT - "Haber", quoted by the Bulgarian National Radio.

Scientists from the Canadian Center for Narcotics and Mental Health at the University of Toronto have found that prolonged depression can cause serious brain changes. The results of their research were published in the journal "The Lancet Psychiatry".

Scientists at the Milbrook Institute of Ecosystem Research have found that the waste of the pharmaceutical industry falling into the rivers makes the fish aggressive, LIFE reports.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an antipsychotic drug that carries a digital sensor to track whether patients are taking it, according to an agency announcement published Monday. The new drug, Abilify MyCite, is used to treat schizophrenia and manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder.

Tests have confirmed that a brand of weight loss pills imported and sold in Serbia contained the antidepressant drug fluoxetine (trade name "Prozac").

The importer of the Slim Line "herbal" pills has reacted by saying that "the contentious batch" has been recalled from the market, the Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti is reporting.

Tests have confirmed that a brand of weight loss pills imported and sold in Serbia contained the antidepressant drug fluoxetine (trade name "Prozac").

The importer of the Slim Line "herbal" pills has reacted by saying that "the contentious batch" has been recalled from the market, the Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti is reporting.

Over 8.5 million people received psychological treatment in 2016 in Turkey, which has a population of nearly 80 million, according to statistics released by the Health Ministry.

The ministry said the number increased by 740,602 in one year, reaching 8,656,513, which corresponds to over 10 percent of the country's population. 

Excavations that have been conducted on Bathonea on the coasts of Küçükçekmece Lake in Istanbul's Avcılar district have unearthed nearly 700 small ceramic or glass bottles containing antidepressant pills and heart disease drugs.